Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Prescription drug misuse
Enhancing Rural Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of issues related to opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural areas. Discusses access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), MOUD workforce, telehealth to support access to MOUD, and Medicaid 1115 demonstrations that address OUD. Offers policy recommendations related to regulatory barriers, reimbursement flexibility, workforce, and service site expansion to increase access to MOUD in rural areas.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides an overview of issues related to opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural areas. Discusses access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), MOUD workforce, telehealth to support access to MOUD, and Medicaid 1115 demonstrations that address OUD. Offers policy recommendations related to regulatory barriers, reimbursement flexibility, workforce, and service site expansion to increase access to MOUD in rural areas.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Assessing the Needs of Rural Families Affected by the Opioid Crisis: Issue Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Explores the considerations for addressing social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of community efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural areas, with a focus on prevention efforts in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Discusses youth and family prevention and well-being; stigma; adverse childhood experience; school-based health centers and youth and family resource centers; access to stable housing, food, and other social supports; the importance of trusted community resources for support; and workforce. Offers recommendations related to reducing stigma and promoting the enhanced utilization of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to help rural communities address OUD and substance use disorders.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Explores the considerations for addressing social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of community efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural areas, with a focus on prevention efforts in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Discusses youth and family prevention and well-being; stigma; adverse childhood experience; school-based health centers and youth and family resource centers; access to stable housing, food, and other social supports; the importance of trusted community resources for support; and workforce. Offers recommendations related to reducing stigma and promoting the enhanced utilization of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to help rural communities address OUD and substance use disorders.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Opioid Use Among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
Examines trends in prescription opioid use among Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas, utilizing 2010-2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data. Provides data on receipt of opioid prescriptions among community-dwelling and facility-dwelling beneficiaries, associations between prescribing and chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), and prescriptions exceeding CDC guidelines. Includes rural-urban comparisons.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Heidi O'Connor, Karen Pearson, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Examines trends in prescription opioid use among Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas, utilizing 2010-2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data. Provides data on receipt of opioid prescriptions among community-dwelling and facility-dwelling beneficiaries, associations between prescribing and chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), and prescriptions exceeding CDC guidelines. Includes rural-urban comparisons.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Heidi O'Connor, Karen Pearson, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Impaired Driving Among Rural Appalachian Women in the Year Following Incarceration
Results of a study examining impaired driving following incarceration and predictors of impaired driving in sample of rural Appalachian women with a history of drug use and risky sex. Features demographics and statistics with breakdown by risk factor.
Author(s): J. Matthew Webster, Megan F. Dickson, Shawn M. Jamison, Michele Staton
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 105-114
Date: 01/2025
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Results of a study examining impaired driving following incarceration and predictors of impaired driving in sample of rural Appalachian women with a history of drug use and risky sex. Features demographics and statistics with breakdown by risk factor.
Author(s): J. Matthew Webster, Megan F. Dickson, Shawn M. Jamison, Michele Staton
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 105-114
Date: 01/2025
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Access to Firearms and Opioids Among Veterans at Risk for Suicide
Analyzes rates of access to firearms and opioids, gun safety practices, and being provided or declining naloxone or firearm locks among 38,454 veterans at risk for suicide, utilizing 2021-2023 Veterans Health Administration electronic health record data. Includes demographic breakdowns, including rural versus urban dwelling.
Author(s): Gabriela Kattan Khazanov, Matthew Wilson, Tom Cidav, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(1), e2456906
Date: 01/2025
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Analyzes rates of access to firearms and opioids, gun safety practices, and being provided or declining naloxone or firearm locks among 38,454 veterans at risk for suicide, utilizing 2021-2023 Veterans Health Administration electronic health record data. Includes demographic breakdowns, including rural versus urban dwelling.
Author(s): Gabriela Kattan Khazanov, Matthew Wilson, Tom Cidav, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(1), e2456906
Date: 01/2025
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A Rural-Urban Analysis of Buprenorphine Therapy During and After Pregnancy Among the Commercially Insured
Explores the use of evidence-based buprenorphine treatment and adherence during the peri-pregnancy period among commercially insured individuals by rurality. Analyzes data on 1,331,040 people between 15 and 44 years-old with diagnosis codes for pregnancy and labor/delivery from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019.
Author(s): KariLynn Dowling-McClay, Bill Brooks, Daniel Krauss, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Explores the use of evidence-based buprenorphine treatment and adherence during the peri-pregnancy period among commercially insured individuals by rurality. Analyzes data on 1,331,040 people between 15 and 44 years-old with diagnosis codes for pregnancy and labor/delivery from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019.
Author(s): KariLynn Dowling-McClay, Bill Brooks, Daniel Krauss, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Patient Centered Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Vermont: A Qualitative Study
Examines patient perspectives on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment in rural Vermont, utilizing interview data from 15 people who received care at Vermont Hub and Spoke clinics. Highlights patient perspectives on aspects of patient-centered care, and their influences on retention and engagement with treatment.
Author(s): Emily G. Hichborn, Owen B. Murray, Eilis I. Murphy, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 3
Date: 01/2025
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Examines patient perspectives on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment in rural Vermont, utilizing interview data from 15 people who received care at Vermont Hub and Spoke clinics. Highlights patient perspectives on aspects of patient-centered care, and their influences on retention and engagement with treatment.
Author(s): Emily G. Hichborn, Owen B. Murray, Eilis I. Murphy, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 3
Date: 01/2025
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Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Facilitated Telemedicine for Underserved Populations: Management of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection. The TEAM-C Study
Examines the effectiveness of a supported telehealth intervention addressing chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) among people enrolled in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in New York State, utilizing data of 602 OTP participants. Includes data and discussion of program impacts by participant demographics, including rural versus urban dwelling.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Andrew H. Talal, Marianthi Markatou, Ponni V. Perumalswami, et al.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
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Examines the effectiveness of a supported telehealth intervention addressing chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) among people enrolled in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in New York State, utilizing data of 602 OTP participants. Includes data and discussion of program impacts by participant demographics, including rural versus urban dwelling.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Andrew H. Talal, Marianthi Markatou, Ponni V. Perumalswami, et al.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
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Indian Health Service Program Evaluation Services: Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Projects Aggregate Report 2021-2024
Report evaluates the Indian Health Service's Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Project aimed at addressing opioid use disorder in tribal communities. Collects and evaluates data from grantees after the program's first three years, April 1, 2021-March 31, 2024. Explores grantees' progress in building organizational capacity, community and educational events, and professional trainings, among other measures.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Report evaluates the Indian Health Service's Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Project aimed at addressing opioid use disorder in tribal communities. Collects and evaluates data from grantees after the program's first three years, April 1, 2021-March 31, 2024. Explores grantees' progress in building organizational capacity, community and educational events, and professional trainings, among other measures.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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